[PDF] Temple Grandin's Guide To Working With Farm Animals: Safe, Humane Livestock Handling Practices
Sandrine Willert
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[PDF] Temple Grandin's Guide To Working With Farm Animals: Safe, Humane Livestock Handling Practices
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Information contained in this publication is subject to periodic review in light of changing practices, government requirements and regulations. No subscriber or reader should act on the basis of any such information without referring to applicable laws and regulations and/or without seeking appropriate professional advice. Although every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, the authors shall not be held responsible for loss or damage caused by errors, omissions, misprints or misinterpretation of the contents hereof. Furthermore, the authors expressly disclaim all and any liability to any person, whether the purchaser of the publication or not, in respect of anything done or omitted, by any such person in reliance on the contents of this publication.
The Codes are developed nationally as guidelines for the care and handling of the different species of farm animals. They are intended to promote sound management and welfare practices through recommendations and requirements for housing, management, transportation, processing and other animal husbandry practices. Requirements refer to either a regulatory requirement, or an industry imposed expectation outlining acceptable and unacceptable practices. Recommended best practices strive for continuous improvement and encourage a higher level of care.
Codes represent a national understanding of animal care requirements and recommended best practices. They have been prepared by consensus amongst diverse groups interested or involved in farm animal care, welfare or research. Some Canadian provinces reference the Codes of Practice within their provincial animal welfare legislation.
In re-establishing a Code of Practice development process, NFACC recognized the need for a more formal means of integrating scientific input into the Code of Practice process. A Scientists' Committee review of priority animal welfare issues for the species being addressed provides valuable information to the Code Development Committee in developing or revising a Code of Practice. As the Scientists' Committee report is publicly available, the transparency and credibility of the Code process and the recommendations within are enhanced.
The 'Code of Practice for the care and handling of dairy cattle: Review of scientific research on priority issues' developed by the Dairy Code of Practice Scientists Committee is available on NFACC's website (www.nfacc.ca).
In 1980, the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies began coordinating the process of developing Codes of Practice for all livestock species. The Canadian Agri-Food Research Council then led the process from 1993-2003. NFACC was initiated in 2005 and facilitated consultations in 2006 that led to an updated Code development process. The updated Code development process was test piloted in 2007/2008, with the revision and finalization of a new Dairy Code of Practice.
Appropriate housing and husbandry are essential for the health and well being of dairy cattle. The Dairy Code of Practice provides guidance to owners and employees for the welfare of cattle in their care. Animal handling is a key factor. Employers have an obligation to properly train employees.
Most husbandry systems impose restrictions on some freedoms of cattle. However, modern dairy farming should not cause unnecessary discomfort or distress. Producers should consider the following animal needs:
Producers meet the needs of their cattle under a variety of husbandry and management systems. Husbandry and housing are important determinants of appropriate cow numbers and densities within specific housing systems.
Whenever the use of technology increases on the farm, consideration should be given to its effect on animal welfare1. Automation often controls temperature, ventilation, feed and water supply. These systems require alarms and backups to prevent cattle from suffering in the event of a mechanical failure.
All herd sizes require adequate human resources to ensure observation, care and the welfare of individual animals. Everyone handling dairy cattle should be familiar with their normal behavior. In addition, there must be adequate staff and time to inspect, service and maintain feeding, watering and milking equipment.
Facilities and resources must be available to supply safe housing, consistent, timely and reliable delivery of feed and water, disease prevention or treatment, individual animal identification and well-being of cattle. A sick, injured or distressed animal should receive prompt and appropriate medical treatment or nursing care. Neither financial cost nor any other circumstance should result in a delay in treatment or in the neglect of the animals.
The Dairy Code of Practice reflects current dairy management practices. It identifies welfare hazards, opportunities and methods to assure well-being. The authors recognize producers have more than one way to ensure welfare of their livestock.
In this Code the word cattle refers to dairy cattle of all ages. Where special provisions for animals under six months apply, the word calf has been used. This Code applies to dairy cattle (including bull calves and bulls) on dairy farms. It does not apply to associated industries (e.g., veal, beef, bull artificial insemination units).
Housing conditions have a significant impact on the welfare of dairy cattle. Dairy cattle in Canada are housed according to their reproductive state, size, age, and lactation period using a variety of systems. Systems may include loose housing, free stalls, or tie stalls, each with or without outdoor and/or pasture access. Each type of housing system has advantages and disadvantages.
The welfare of dairy cattle depends not only on the specific housing system, but also on the details and management of a particular system. Details would include stall design, type of flooring, feeding system design, stocking density, cattle traffic patterns, location of water bowls or troughs, and handling system. Housing system design should take into consideration environmental and management factors (18).
At all stages of life, cattle should be housed under conditions conducive to health, comfort, nourishment and safety. The system should allow cattle to express innate behavior and be designed to avoid suffering from pain, fear, injury or distress.
There are distinct advantages to housing unweaned calves in either individual pens, calf hutches, or in small groups. Most of the problems that affect calves in the first few weeks of life are associated with infectious agents or nutrition. However, individual housing may place limits on a calf's opportunity for exercise and social contact.
Weaned heifers are generally housed in groups appropriate to their size. Heifers often have access to the outdoors. However, other housing practices are used as well (e.g., tethering). Little research has been done to examine the effects of housing on the welfare of weaned heifers (19).
Choices in housing design and construction of facilities have a direct influence on cow comfort. Cow behavior and health can be used as gauges of cow comfort (2). The choices producers make in housing and management have an impact on the welfare of cows and hence the profitability of a dairy farm. Flaws in design or construction features can lead to welfare and health outcomes like traumatic injuries, sore feet, mastitis or metabolic diseases (3).
Cow walking patterns can also be used as indicators of cow comfort and to identify inadequacies of flooring and lighting. A healthy cow places the rear foot into the position vacated by the front foot on the same side. Slippery floors or dark conditions can alter a cow's walking behavior, placing greater stress on the outside claw (2).
Dry cows are generally housed in groups and often have access to the outdoors via pasture or dry lots. However, other housing practices are used as well (e.g. tethering). Little research has been done to examine the effects of housing on the welfare of dry cows.
Special needs facilities are an option for grouping animals to provide for the special needs of calving, transition or sick/infirm cows (20). Special needs facilities should be designed to minimize stress. Appropriate stocking density and design are needed within special needs facilities to minimize competition for limited resources (e.g., feed bunks, stalls). Cows like to engage in the same activity at the same time so overstocking is a source of frustration if this need cannot be met (8).
Cows are especially active in the hours before calving, so factors affecting the comfort of the calving area are especially important. Well-designed maternity pens benefit the cow and farm workers who supervise calving.
Most welfare problems of dairy cows arise during the post-calving period. Fresh cows need special care and a less competitive environment, which may be best achieved if managed as a separate group for free stall barns. Physical barriers, including head locks and feed stalls, can help reduce competition at the feed bunk and increase feeding time, particularly for subordinate cows (10).
Excessive ammonia levels can pose a health threat to both animal handlers and cattle. Proper ventilation is needed to remove ammonia from livestock buildings. While there are no guidelines related to acceptable levels of ammonia exposure for livestock, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health recommends a short-term exposure limit of 35 ppm and a time-weighted average concentration (for up to a 10-hour workday during a 40-hour work week) of 25 ppm for humans (16). All measures should be taken to keep ammonia levels within acceptable human health guidelines. There are several detection methods for ammonia, including litmus paper, detection tubes and electronic devices (1).
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